Motorcycle escorting big SUV: humarang sa gitna ng Roxas Blvd; montik ko mabangga

[roberto_minosa]

My untold story.

Last sembreak, my classmates and I went off to Harbor Square in Pasay. Before we got there, traffic was moderate to heavy. When I was driving along the baywalk in Malate, an black SUV escorted by a couple of 1000cc bikes was weaving through traffic with all their lights and sirens. The pack drove through the parking area for baywalk visitors and blasted through the traffic. I reached a green stoplight just before the Phil. Navy station and Manila Yacht Club when a motorcycle escort turned left from the parking area and blocked 3 lanes of traffic. I happened to be on the middle lane. I quickly glanced at my left side mirror to see if the left lane was clear, and steered away from the brainless biker. I would have wanted to hit the rider if I was in a real bad mood to teach all those who think they're "high up", but my conscience told me to keep my cool. I can remember myself swearing the rest of my drive to harbor square.

I hate 8-plate vehicles. Especially those with escorts, sirens, and strobe lights.

[mbeige]

You knew they were using sirens, you knew traffic was slow, I would have slowed down and just let them pass. Were you driving too fast for the condition, since you had to swerve to avoid the biker?

There's no point confronting these guys. That's why they have the escort bikes, because without them they can't get through, just like anybody else.

[ans_lim168]

It's a real piss off to see these big gas guzzling suvs with police escorts...but I agree with the poster above me that it's pointless to confront these arrogant road users...

I remember a motorist that got into trouble coz he got involved with GMA's PSG escorts along NLEX...just let them pass and avoid them as much as possible.

[bender]

Just honk your horn at them. That's the only thing you can do.

[roberto_minosa]

You knew they were using sirens, you knew traffic was slow, I would have slowed down and just let them pass. Were you driving too fast for the condition, since you had to swerve to avoid the biker?

There's no point confronting these guys. That's why they have the escort bikes, because without them they can't get through, just like anybody else.

No, they weren't driving within the lanes of Roxas Blvd. As I said, they drove through the parking lot of the baywalk. And no, I was driving normally. Maybe 30km/h - 40. I never go fast outside expressways.

Actually traffic eased before the stop light near the Manila Yacht Club. The light was green so I went right through. I was driving normally just like anyone would. The pack was driving through the parking lot maybe to get way ahead of traffic. The SUV was a little far from the escorts when this one biker way ahead of the SUV attempted to block half of Roxas Blvd. with vehicles on the move. BUT why did that particular biker escort have to block the way when he didn't need to? The SUV wasn't ready to cross anyway.

And finally, yes, I honked at the biker. If I was Carl Johnson, I'd probably drill him a box full of .50cal or run over him 'til I'm satisfied. But clearly, that's not the case. The Philippines sucks, and the only advice that I receive is "go with the flow". So much for our taxes.

[monkey_wrench]

No, they weren't driving within the lanes of Roxas Blvd. As I said, they drove through the parking lot of the baywalk. And no, I was driving normally. Maybe 30km/h - 40. I never go fast outside expressways.

Actually traffic eased before the stop light near the Manila Yacht Club. The light was green so I went right through. I was driving normally just like anyone would. The pack was driving through the parking lot maybe to get way ahead of traffic. The SUV was a little far from the escorts when this one biker way ahead of the SUV attempted to block half of Roxas Blvd. with vehicles on the move. BUT why did that particular biker escort have to block the way when he didn't need to? The SUV wasn't ready to cross anyway.

And finally, yes, I honked at the biker. If I was Carl Johnson, I'd probably drill him a box full of .50cal or run over him 'til I'm satisfied. But clearly, that's not the case. The Philippines sucks, and the only advice that I receive is "go with the flow". So much for our taxes.

the philippines does not suck - at least not completely. true, arrogant a-holes abound, and true - the reason why they abound is that no one is willing to do anything about it. so let's just be smart about it. get out your phone and capture on video. then report it to media. sadly, that's the only recourse available to common peons like you and me for things like this.

at least your experience is with a "legit" escort. what pisses me off more are those tinted private vehicles (w/ no escort), but armed with after-market lights and sirens which they use for their convenience. i recently saw one flashing and blaring in a stoplight. he wanted the car ahead of him to move forward so he could go through. thumbs up to the car ahead of him for not giving way. when i passed by, i gave the a-hole with the sirens the finger. of course, my wife lectured me for 1 full hour after that incident.

[claRkEnt]

the philippines does not suck - at least not completely. true, arrogant a-holes abound, and true - the reason why they abound is that no one is willing to do anything about it. so let's just be smart about it. get out your phone and capture on video. then report it to media. sadly, that's the only recourse available to common peons like you and me for things like this.

Not really "no one"! There are still some people (i for one. .. sometimes) who gets pissed off and "defy" what they wanted. Correct me if i'm wrong, the only legitimate vehicles that should have escorts ar those with plates # 1 and 2. Others have no legal rights to have escorts and sadly, sila pa maaangas!

Sadly, We pinoys have accepted this practice as a normal one already. The authorities are just doing a ningas-cogon job on this. I think it would take a fatal incident which would involve this illegal escorts for this to fully get the authorities' attention. And hopefully something will change permanently for good.

[harmon_168]

Not really "no one"! There are still some people (i for one. .. sometimes) who gets pissed off and "defy" what they wanted. Correct me if i'm wrong, the only legitimate vehicles that should have escorts ar those with plates # 1 and 2. Others have no legal rights to have escorts and sadly, sila pa maaangas! .

as far as i know sir hindi lang po plates #1 and 2 are legit to have a convoy with sirens and blinkers.. meron po ako friend from PSG ang 1st family po may convoy but they are not allowed to use the plate # 1 only PGMA can use that plate.

for me naman basta legit convoy with marked vehicles, four-wheels or two-wheels man ang escort basta may uniform ang rider wala naman problema.

I remember pa nga before kasama ko yung tita ko from states may nakasalubong kami convoy it is plate # 1 nung malapit na sabi ko sa tita ko "ah si PGMA pala yun".. sabi nya "oh dapat mag-pull over ka" sabi ko hindi nsa opposite lane naman sila.. "sabi nya sa states basta v.i.p with convoys they are pulling over to give way or just stop the car kahit nsa opposite side.. sabi ko ah dito po sa pinas marami yung mga allergic sa mga convoy nga lalo pa yan ginigitgit... pero it's my common practise to slow down when I saw blinkers and when i heard a siren hinahanap ko if its legit then kung kailangan ko magstop to giveway...

[mbeige]

BUT why did that particular biker escort have to block the way when he didn't need to? The SUV wasn't ready to cross anyway.

That's their job, to provide a clear path for the escorted vehicle well before it reaches that spot. That way, most of the vehicles that are asked to stop, will know that a convoy is passing through. If somebody (like you) manages to break the stopped line of vehicles and "threaten" (in their perspective) their convoy then at least the SUV will still be a good distance away.

That's why they have sirens. That's why they have escorts. Get out of their way. Or, more politely, it's like them asking, "Please let us through, it's a matter of importance"...but if you get in their way then they get aggressive.

If you were driving leisurely, at the normal pace, then there's no need to pass the biker.

If they wish to do so illegally, it's up to them. Just stay out of harm's way.

[harmon_168]

That's their job, to provide a clear path for the escorted vehicle well before it reaches that spot. That way, most of the vehicles that are asked to stop, will know that a convoy is passing through. If somebody (like you) manages to break the stopped line of vehicles and "threaten" (in their perspective) their convoy then at least the SUV will still be a good distance away.

That's why they have sirens. That's why they have escorts. Get out of their way. Or, more politely, it's like them asking, "Please let us through, it's a matter of importance"...but if you get in their way then they get aggressive.

If you were driving leisurely, at the normal pace, then there's no need to pass the biker.

If they wish to do so illegally, it's up to them. Just stay out of harm's way.

+1.. kahit naman po nag-lalakad ang vip with security naka-cordon-off ang nilalakaran nya because they have death threats.. ganun lang din po sa convoy it's just like they are cordoning off the vip's vehicle..

[lazyfoot]

i can relate, nearly got run out of the road while driving 60 kph in edsa. i was using a blue plate pajero. the escorts were weaving in and out of 3 lanes, i was already at the side coz i was gonna turn to the road going to white plains. the motorcycles and the unplated excorts nearly hit me, the way they're weaving is so wild plus the people inside are showing off their armalite rifles. Those people will never get my respect.

[n1kn0k]

kaya hindi nasosolve traffic dito sa pinas, kasi yong mga dapat na nag-iisip ng paraan kung pano masolve traffic e hindi natatraffic! ang masama pa ron, tayo nagpapasahod sa kanila at pera natin yong pinanggas sa mga motor at auto na humahawi sa tin!

haay!

[roberto_minosa]

kaya hindi nasosolve traffic dito sa pinas, kasi yong mga dapat na nag-iisip ng paraan kung pano masolve traffic e hindi natatraffic!

haay!

Yep! Same thing applies to LRT/MRT. Kala kasi nila madali magcommute dun kaya banjing banjing lang sila...